Research summary
Seniors with dementia who live in rural and remote communities face barriers to accessing dementia care, such as limited information and transportation options. These barriers may lead to social isolation and negatively impact their well-being and that of their care partners.
Dr. Janita-Dawne Bacsu, Canada Research Chair in Nursing and Population Health, aims to improve the ability of older adults with dementia in rural areas to “age in place” by giving them better access to information about health and support services. She and her research team hope to develop and evaluate individual, community, policy and societal-level interventions that would lead to better health equity and quality of life for seniors. They will also enhance dementia care in rural areas by creating an educational program for rural health care practitioners, such as nurses and physicians.